ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Successful field trial of Drone spraying of Nano Urea undertaken
“India has become the first country in the world to start commercial production of Nano Urea”: Shri Mansukh Mandaviya
In the presence of Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, a practical field trial of Drone Spraying of Nano Liquid Urea was conducted in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The trial was attended by a large number of farmers. This demonstration of spraying liquid nano urea by drone was undertaken by IFFCO, a company involved in developing nano urea.
Union Minister Shri Mandaviya underscored the activity as a huge achievement. “India has become the first country in the world to start commercial production of Nano Urea. Not only has Nano Urea been produced on a large scale today, but we are happy that farmers are adopting it on a large scale since the very beginning. It started production in June and till now we have produced more than 5 million bottles of Nano Urea. More than one lakh bottles of nano urea are being produced every day”, he said.
Talking about the field trials of drone spraying held today, Mr. Mandaviya said, “Many questions and doubts remain in the minds of people regarding conventional spraying of fertilizers and pesticides. Concerns are also expressed about the potential harm to the health of the sprayers. Drone spraying will solve these questions and problems. Drones will be able to spray more land in less time. This will save the time of the farmers. The cost of spraying will be less. This will result in financial savings to the farmers. Along with this, the safety of the sprinklers will also be ensured.”
Shri Mandaviya said that in a short span of time, Liquid Nano Urea has emerged as a powerful alternative to conventional Urea. He also said that increasing use of liquid nano urea will result in economic savings to the farmers, increase productivity and reduce India's dependence on urea imports. This will also reduce the subsidy burden on the government and the government will be able to use this savings on other public welfare schemes.
IFFCO in its study has found that spraying nano urea through drones is more effective on crops and will also have a positive effect on productivity. A large number of farmers participated in today's trial and eagerly inquired about nano urea and the technique of drone spraying. IFFCO experts answered the queries of the farmers.
On this occasion, along with Union Minister Shri Mandaviya, Chairman of National Cooperative Union of India and Vice President of IFFCO Shri Dilip Bhai Sanghani was also present.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves revision of Indian Community Welfare Fund guidelines
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved revision of the Indian Community Welfare Fund  guidelines.
ICWF, set up in 2009, is aimed at assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the most deserving cases on a means tested basis. The revised guidelines being made broad-based seek to expand the scope of welfare measures that can be extended through the Fund. The guidelines would cover three key areas namely Assisting Overseas Indian nationals in distress situations, Community Welfare activities and Improvement in Consular services. They are expected to provide Indian Missions and Posts abroad greater flexibility in swiftly addressing to requests for assistance by Overseas Indian nationals.
Apart from assisting Indian nationals in distress abroad, ICWF has been a critical support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals in conflict zones in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and other challenging situations like assistance extended to undocumented Indian workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Nitaqat drive in 2013 and the ongoing Amnesty drive in 2017.
The scale and speed of these evacuations and assistance rendered through the Fund has been universally appreciated. It has also created a sense of confidence among the migrant workers going overseas about the support they can expect from India during critical times.
ICWF stands extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad and is primarily funded by levying service charge on various consular services rendered by Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Webinar on “A career in Sports- Opportunity and Challenges” organized
With Tokyo Olympics around the corner and the country already in the ‘sports mode’, the Press Information Bureau  and Regional Outreach Bureau , Chandigarh organised a webinar on “A career in Sports- Opportunity and Challenges” today with eminent international athletes as guest speakers.
The first guest speaker was Shri Raman Singh who is a national record holding sprinter and jumper. He has also represented India 4 times in the Para Asian Games. Despite being born in the small village of Sanghopatti in Bihar with 100% visual impairment, he became one of the first 100% visually challenged athletes to represent India in the FESPIC Games  at Kuala Lampur in Malaysia in 2006.
Addressing the audience about the career in sports, he said, “Sports is a result of passion and hardwork. The saying which we used to hear in our childhood –“PadogeLikhoge to BanogeNawab; KhelogeKudoge to BanogeKharab” is no more applicable in present scenario where sports is being pursued by many as a career.”
Throwing light on the other career aspect of sports industry, he continued, “Sports in itself is not just limited to playing only, rather it includes the domain of sports specific nutritionist and dietician, manufacturers of sports goods and uniforms, sports physicians etc.”
The second speaker, Ms. Akanksha Singh is an ex-captain of the Indian Women's National Basketball Team who has represented India at numerous international sporting events including the Asian Games.
Akanksha Singh took the participants through her own story to explain all the career options - as athletes, coaches, sports psychologists, sports physiotherapists, event managers etc, that sports has to offer. When asked about the role of sports psychologists, she said, “A calm and motivated mind plays the biggest role in a sportsman’s performance, and sports psychologist is precisely the person for the job”.
Welcoming the participants, Sh. Himanshu Pathak, Assistant Director, PIB Chandigarh said that sports and games have always been seen as an integral component in the all-round development of the human personality and plays a great role in generating the spirit of healthy competition and bonding within the community.
Sh. Harshit Narang, Assistant Director, PIB Chandigarh moderated the session and Ms. Sapna, Assistant Director, ROB Chandigarh closed the webinar with a vote of thanks to the speakers and the participants present.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Highway Projects in the North-Eastern States
To expedite completion of all ongoing National Highway projects, Government has taken various steps which include streamlining of land acquisition & environment clearances, exit for equity investors, premium re-schedulement, close coordination with other Ministries, revamping of dispute resolution mechanism, frequent reviews at various levels etc.
Ministry takes up new National Highway projects through its implementing agencies like NHAI, NHIDCL, State PWDs, BRO, etc., based on the requirements of traffic, connectivity, interse priority and the availability of resources. National Highways Authority of India  has initiated action for taking up construction of flyovers at Boragaon, Gorchuk, Lokhra&Basistha Junction in Guwahati Bypass, standalone flyovers and ROBon stretches of NH 31, NH 31C, NH 36 and NH 37, and balance work of Narimbaglo-Jatinga Junction- Hrangajao stretch of East West corridor. Besides NHAI has planned for taking up project preparation work for construction Guwahati Ring Road. Further, Ministry plans to take up through other implementing agencies like NHIDCL, State PWDs and BRO, about 131 new National Highway projects at an approximate estimated cost of about 84,193 crore, in the North-Eastern States, within the next three years, under the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
MJPS
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Ministry of Defence
Paraplegic patients from Military Hospital Kirkee achieve glory, win Gold at International Wheelchair Games, Portugal
Pune, 5 December 2022
Conquering disability following catastrophic spinal cord injury, soldiers admitted at the oldest and the largest Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Indian Armed Forces made the nation proud with their triumph at the recently held International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports  World Games at Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal from 23 - 29 Nov 2022.
In an exemplary, triumphant effort by Hav Gopal Singh Sena Medal from the Parachute Regiment Special Forces, he struck a Gold medal in Para Javelin event and Bronze in Para Shotput. Overcoming the physically disabling effects of a life changing spinal cord injury with his attitude and nerves of steel, backed by the team work at Military Hospital Kirkee, he fought back the disability brought on by paraplegia and has brought laurels to the nation and Armed Forces.
Lance Naik Abhijit Patil from the Regiment of Artillery was another highlight of the event with a bronze medal in Para Shotput. Patil, who has won several national Para athletic medals tasted success at the International arena with his perseverance, a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation regimen at Military Hospital Kirkee. Sep Prakash Pingale, admitted at the Hospital with paraplegia strived hard and finished sixth in Para Shotput in his category.
The never-say-die attitude of these paraplegic soldiers paves way for an intensive, protocol based rehabilitation programme for these patients at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Military Hospital Kirkee followed by a focussed and rigorous training at the Army Paralympic Node . Naik Ravinder Panaghal, an experienced para athletic coach at the APN who was a part of the contingent to Portugal expressed his delight at the marvellous performance by the para athletes. The entire medical team of Military Hospital Kirkee led by Brig Tony Jose, Commandant of the Hospital celebrated the grand success of the patients who have made the treating team as well as the whole nation proud. IWAS World Games was organised under the aegis of International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation.PIB Pune | M.Iyengar/D.Rane
सोशल मिडियावर आम्हाला फॉलो करा:@PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs high level review meeting on TB
“TB elimination to be taken up through a ‘Mission Mode’
India to be made TB-Free through a jan andolan: Dr Harsh Vardhan
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare held a high level meeting to review the status of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program , here today. Ms Preeti Sudan, Secretary , Shri Sanjeeva Kumar, AS , Shri Manoj Jhalani, AS & MD and other senior officers of the Health Ministry were present at the meeting.
Taking stock of the Tuberculosis Control Program, Dr Harsh Vardhan directed the officials for taking up elimination of TB on a ‘Mission Mode’, which would include all stakeholders to come together for an aggressive strategy for TB free India by 2025. “Hon. Prime Minister has given a clarion call to made India free of Tuberculosis by 2025, five years earlier than the global target. Let us develop a comprehensive and focussed high profile strategic action plan by bringing together synergies of all systems and available resources across the government and non-government sectors”, he stated in the meeting.
He further suggested that innovative approaches should be adopted to address TB and directed that eliminating TB should be made into a ‘Jan Andolan’. The Union Health Minister suggested roping in other Ministries, State Governments, MPs, MLAs, NGOs, civil society organisations and media so that sustained efforts are made in combating TB. He further directed the officials to take up new interventions and mount aggressive awareness campaigns so that the whole country is in sync with the ‘TB Harega Desh Jitega’ slogan.
Ministry of Railways
More than 100 employees/officers felicitated at the 63rd Rail Week National Award function
Sh. Piyush Goyal announced two new initiatives for people of Madhya Pradesh - Indore-Howrah-Indore Shipra Express to be equipped with pantry service facility and train frequency made daily now
Minister of Railways & Coal, Sh. Piyush Goyal urged Railway fraternity to continue with their good work with full vigour and as a team
Winners of four zonal competitions and 113 employees/officers and units were awarded by the Union Minister of Railways and Coal Sh Piyush Goyal for their outstanding performance. The 63rd Rail Week National Award function was held in Bhopal on the 16th of April 2018. This occasion was graced by Minister of Railways & Coal, Sh. Piyush Goyal in presence of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Minister of State for Railways, Sh. Manoj Sinha, Chairman, Railway Board Sh. Ashwini Lohani, Secretary Railway Board Sh. Ranjanesh Sahai and other officials of Indian Railways and its employees.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Piyush Goyal urged Railway fraternity to continue with their good work with full vigour and as a team. He also highlighted that Railway is progressing at a fast pace in Madhya Pradesh. He took this opportunity to announce two new initiatives for people of Madhya Pradesh in which Train number 22911/22912 Indore-Howrah-Indore Shipra Express will be provided with facility of pantry service along with increasing its frequency from three days a week to daily.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan while appreciating the headway made by railway in Madhya Pradesh said that this rail budget has seen maximum allocation to Madhya Pradesh which will help effective and timely fruition of ongoing railway works.
The programme was inaugurated by Minister of State for Railways Sh. Manoj Sinha by lighting the lamp for motivation and positivity. Minister of State for Railways, Sh. Manoj Sinha said that Railway is on the path of progress in which focused contribution of all railway employees is necessary to catapult Railway to further heights.
Minister of Railway complemented the Organising Committee of Railway Board and West Central Railway for successful arrangements during the function and announced Rs 11 lakh award to each.
Shri Piyush Goyal along with Shri Sanjiv Lohia, CEO, Indian Railways Station Development Corporation  also inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Habibganj station which is the first station taken up for world-class station in Indian Railways. He saw the detailed planning and progress of the work. He visited the subway site at Habibganj station. Minister of Railway & Coal, Sh Goyal instructed that targets of December 2018 should be met for the Habibganj Station redevelopment work.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Government revises the Crop Residue Management guidelines enabling efficient ex-situ management of paddy straw generated in the States of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi
The Government has revised the Crop Residue Management guidelines enabling efficient ex-situ management of paddy straw generated in the States of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi.
As per the revised guidelines, techno-commercial pilot projects for Paddy Straw Supply Chain will be established under the bilateral agreement between the Beneficiary/Aggregator  and Panchayats) and Industries utilizing the paddy straw.
Govt shall provide financial assistance on the capital cost of machinery and equipment. The required working capital may be financed either by the Industry and Beneficiary jointly or utilizing the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund , NABARD Financial or Financing from the Financial Institutions by the beneficiary. The land for storage of the collected paddy straw will be arranged and prepared by the beneficiary as may be guided by the end use industry.
Project proposal based financial assistance will be extended for machines and equipments such as Higher HP Tractor, Cutters, Tedder, Medium to Large Balers, Rakers, Loaders, Grabbers and Telehandlers which are essentially required for establishment of paddy straw supply chain.
State Governments shall approve these projects through project sanctioning committee.
Government  will provide financial support of @ 65% of the project cost, Industry as primary promoter of the project will contribute 25% and will act as the Primary consumer of the feedstock collected and Farmer or group of Farmers or Rural Entrepreneurs or Cooperative Societies of Farmers or Farmers Producer Organizations , or Panchayats will be the direct Beneficiary of the project and will contribute the balance 10%.
The Outcomes of the above interventions are :
- The initiative will supplement the efforts of paddy straw management through in-situ options
- During the three-year tenure of the interventions, 1.5 million metric tonnes of surplus paddy straw are expected to be collected which would otherwise have been burnt in fields.
- About 333 biomass collection depots of capacity 4500 MT will be built in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Air pollution caused by stubble burning will be considerably reduced.
- It would generate employment opportunities of about 9,00,000 man days.
- The interventions will encourage a robust supply chain management of paddy straw which shall further help in making paddy straw available for various end uses i.e., power generation, heat generation, bio- CNG, etc. by Power/bio-CNG/bio-ethanol producers
- Establishment of supply chain would result in new investments in Biomass to biofuel and energy sectors.
Ministry of Defence
44 SQN, THE HARBINGERS OF “STRATEGIC AIRLIFT” IN THE IAF CELEBRATE THEIR DIAMOND JUBILEE
44 Squadron of the Indian Air Force is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee this year at Chandigarh. The rich and glorious history of the Sqn is a kaleidoscope of military history and military diplomacy of modern-day India and filled with tales of fortitude, courage, daring, devotion and professionalism which encapsulates all that IAF stands for.
The Squadron was raised on 06 Apr 1961 and equipped with the AN-12 aircraft. It operated the AN-12 till 1985. In March 1985, it brought the IL-76 aircraft into India, which was formally inducted into IAF on 16 Jun 1985. The aircraft continues to in service today. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations due in 2021 had to be postponed due to COVID 19 pandemic.
The harbinger of strategic airlift in the IAF, the Squadron has been a part of all major military and HADR initiatives in the recent history of the nation, which not only saw the IAF and the nation evolve from a tactical to a strategic force, but also enhanced the military might of the sister Services. The Squadron provided succor in times of need to the citizens of the country as well as people all around the world, in keeping with the nation’s belief of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
The Squadron has stayed true to its motto of ‘ISHTAM YATNEN SADHYET’ which means ‘ACHIEVE GOALS THROUGH PERSEVERANCE’. In 1985 the Squadron was renamed as the ‘MIGHTY JETS’.
Since its raising, No. 44 Sqn has been at the forefront of the airlift activities undertaken by IAF. The Squadron continues to remain ever ready to undertake any task that is entrusted to it.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India following guidelines of international organizations and adhering to Quality, Food Safety and Environment management systems regarding Buffalo meat;
Indian origin frozen boneless Buffalo meat is safe, says APEDA
India is one of the world’s leading exporters of buffalo meat. Despite Covid -19 Pandemic for over a year now, India has been able to achieve its exports valued at USD 3.17 billion in the year 2020-21 which is at the previous year’s level of exports . The value realization of buffalo meat also went up from USD 2754 to 2921 per MT. The nutritious and risk free Buffalo meat is very popular in more than 70 countries across the world. Top Indian buffalo meat importing countries are Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and UAE. The Buffalo meat is prepared and exported in accordance with OIE guidelines for any risk mitigation. Only boneless buffalo meat is allowed for export from India which is safe and risk free.
Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority , Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said that all importing countries can safely procure Indian origin frozen boneless Buffalo meat. The Buffalo meat exports from India are going on smoothly and there are no hurdles in supply chain. The affordably priced buffalo meat is contributing towards food security and food price inflation control in the importing countries.
There have been several interventions by the Government of India to control and eradicate various livestock diseases. The Launching of National Animal Disease Control Programme  in June, 2019 to control Foot & Mouth Disease  and Brucellosis by 2025 with vaccination and eradication of disease by 2030 is one of the flagship scheme of GOI. In order to fully contain and eradicate the diseases, 100% cost of vaccine is borne by the Central Government for which an outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore has been made. Under this programme all vaccinated animals are ear tagged and a complete traceability is maintained. In addition, the Govt. of India has also been implementing several schemes for prevention, control and containment of Livestock diseases of economic importance such as FMD. India’s official FMD Control Programme received OIE’s endorsement, as per the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
World class meat processing infrastructure is available in India which is certified for Quality Management, Food Safety Management and Environment management systems.
International organizations such as OIE, WHO and FAO have issued guidelines which categorically mention that it is highly unlikely that people can contact Covid -19 from food or food packaging. Covid -19 is a respiratory disease and the primary transmission route is through person to person contact. As per the guidelines of these International organizations, Indian meat processing establishments are following physical distancing, stringent hygiene and sanitation measures. Regular training is given to staff and workers on food safety practices.